LIFE-SAVING plans to allow troubled climbers to dial 999 from their mobiles in remote bad-signal areas, were last night welcomed by rescuers.

Trekkers who venture into North Wales beauty spots with no telephone reception, will still be able to make emergency calls as part of “priority” proposals announced by Ofcom yesterday.

The move means mobiles can “roam” onto other networks with a better signal.

Last night Chris Lloyd from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team said the communications system could save lives.

“Anything that helps communication between us and those in trouble is definitely welcomed and will help us get to people a lot quicker,” he said.

“Having said that, too many people depend on mobile phones as a safety net but we would always encourage them to carry full equipment in the first place such as a compass, torch, map, whistle and adequate clothing.”

He added: “People who are unprepared then tend to contact us for slight emergencies which could be avoided but ultimately anything that helps mobile phone signals on mountains and remote areas is great news.”

Ofcom said the new system which does not involve implementing more masts provides “added reassurance” to phone users.

At the moment, calls to emergency numbers can only be connected if the caller's own network is available in the area.

But it proves an issue in more remote areas and means that in some parts of Wales emergency mobile calls cannot be connected from certain networks.

Ofcom is working closely with mobile network operators and the emergency services to develop a service where emergency calls automatically "roam" onto an available network if there is no coverage from a customer's own mobile service.

To secure a 999 mobile roaming service in the UK, Ofcom will consider the experience of other European countries, in particular with regard to hoax and nuisance calls made to emergency services due to inadvertent dialling of 999.

If technical trials by the mobile network operators are successful, Ofcom expects this service to be in place by the end of the year.

The proposals form part of Ofcom's consultation on Access and Inclusion published yesterday.

The consultation considers the issues preventing take up of communications services and whether there are significant gaps in their geographic availability.

Rhodri Williams, Ofcom’s director for Wales, said: “The advisory council for Wales, whose members live in various parts of Wales and are familiar with its roads, drew Ofcom’s attention to the fact that 999 roaming – available in most European countries – was not available in the UK.

“As a result, Ofcom instigated a series of discussions with mobile network operators, and have secured agreement that will lead to trials of emergency roaming technology during 2009 and a speedy deployment of 999 roaming.